Editor's Overview
The Scion tC boasts sporty styling, a sporty ride, a modest asking price and a high potential for customization.
Pricing
Cars For Sale
KBB.com Expert Review
You'll Like This Car If...
Scion's attractive pricing combined with Toyota's reputation for dependability makes the 2013 tC coupe compelling for anyone looking for a fun coupe with reasonable amenities. The aftermarket offers a lot for Scion vehicles, allowing for maximum customization on a minimal budget.
You May Not Like This Car If...
Depending on the performance you expect, particularly from a sporty-looking coupe, the 2013 Scion tC may leave you underwhelmed (as past models have). Acceleration, response and handling precision are rather average, and even the Release Series 8.0 package isn't much better.
What's New for 2013
After a major design in 2011, the 2013 Scion tC coupe is little changed in base form but as usual, a new up-level trim, called Release Series 8.0 this year, is added to the line. It's a striking, limited-production (2,000 units) configuration. Available only in Absolutely Red with black trim, 8.0 combines styling touches from Five Axis and performance parts from Toyota Racing Development (TRD).
Consumer Reviews
Martin
August 18, 2018
A lot of car for your money!
Great car, wish it had better gas mileage (35 city, 50 freeway).
Constance
June 05, 2016
Overpriced for a small car.
I bought this vehicle ~ a month ago. Beautiful exterior color and add-ons. Would have preferred a lighter interior. Spacious interior...
berny
May 20, 2016
Great young drivers car
The car is a great car for a young driver. Great in the city, car is very agile and quick of the start. The coupe hatchback is an...
Mrhockey2
March 27, 2016
I love this car
I am 58 years old and it makes me feel like a kid again. It is fun to drive and handles every so well. She is a great car to look at and...
sciontcks
March 15, 2016
Safe to say I am in love with the car!
I just recently purchased a 2013 Scion tC, and I have fallen in love immediately! I love the sporty look to it, drives great compared to...
AO
December 11, 2015
Love this car!
Used to have a Chevy Cruze. I've never hated a car so much in my life. It left me stranded 3 times and what kind of new car already...
Bailey
September 03, 2015
I love this car!
I bought my car in December of 2014. I had test drove older model TC's but none were what I was really wanting. The day I test drove my...
Drew
June 09, 2015
Awesome vehicle for first time car buyers.
As a young professional this car is really all I can ask for and more. It handles very nicely, it's fun to drive, and being a hatch back...
cassij
May 02, 2015
love it
I bought the car brand new back in August--love at first sight! I was a little cautious about it only having the 4cyl engine (my last...
Naz
February 09, 2015
Fantastic car
Absolutely love this car. Great engine and transmission, good MPG I usually always get 28 or better in mixed driving. Lots of interior...
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Performance
Seating Capacity
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Safety Ratings
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KBB Editor's Overview
Scion is Toyota's youth-oriented division and the tC coupe has historically been its best-selling model. The car's appeal lies in spirited styling, lots of features, surprisingly good audio systems for the price and freedom to personalize the car. Actual over-the-road performance may not live up to everyone's expectations, with modest horsepower and soft suspension, but it's entirely adequate for a city and suburban runabout. As is becoming an annual tradition, the tC gets a special-edition upgrade package, called Release Series 8.0 for 2013, that gives it a stronger personality. With starting prices around $20,000, the 2013 Scion tC offers a lot of style and a good bit of attitude for the money, and seems destined to continue as the Scion clientele's favorite.
You'll Like This Car If...
Scion's attractive pricing combined with Toyota's reputation for dependability makes the 2013 tC coupe compelling for anyone looking for a fun coupe with reasonable amenities. The aftermarket offers a lot for Scion vehicles, allowing for maximum customization on a minimal budget.
You May Not Like This Car If...
Depending on the performance you expect, particularly from a sporty-looking coupe, the 2013 Scion tC may leave you underwhelmed (as past models have). Acceleration, response and handling precision are rather average, and even the Release Series 8.0 package isn't much better.
What's New for 2013
After a major design in 2011, the 2013 Scion tC coupe is little changed in base form but as usual, a new up-level trim, called Release Series 8.0 this year, is added to the line. It's a striking, limited-production (2,000 units) configuration. Available only in Absolutely Red with black trim, 8.0 combines styling touches from Five Axis and performance parts from Toyota Racing Development (TRD).
Driving It
Driving Impressions
The driving experience has always been the biggest source of debate over the
Scion tC, and the 2013 tC coupe is unlikely to settle any arguments. The clutch in the 6-speed manual transmission is both light for daily commute convenience and precise for quick shifts. But road manners and chassis feel are uninspiring, with rather vague steering and soft suspension. Low-rpm engine response is quite good but revving out the 2.5-liter four generates only average thrust. Compared to other coupes in its class, it's not nearly as powerful or capable, though for city driving it's probably good enough for most buyers. The Series Release 8.0 package includes firmer, lower springs (and paddle shifters for the automatic) that help a little.
Favorite Features
PIONEER SOUND SYSTEM
That such a thorough audio setup is standard on a $20,000 coupe is just flat-out great. The Bluetooth connectivity is easy enough to work with and the sound quality itself is excellent.
BUILD YOUR OWN
Personalization is a consistent Scion theme, and between the factory and the aftermarket, it's easy to make your tC really your tC. There are many forums, groups and clubs dedicated to Scion customization.
Vehicle Details
Interior
The 2013 Scion tC earns its keep with a smart interior that offers exceptional comfort and a convenient control layout. The driver's seat is adjustable enough for all shapes and sizes, and rear-seat passengers will be surprised by the amount of room they actually have. Dials and instrument clusters have a round theme that is pleasant and manages to be Spartan without looking like anything is missing. A 60/40-split folding back seat allows trips to actual supermarkets, not just convenience stores.
Exterior
The 2013 Scion tC, with its more angular roofline and big lower grille, makes a stronger visual statement than the first generation did. Where other, smaller coupes in its class can look excessively what-you-see-is-what-you-get, the tC coupe looks aggressively playful. The tC also looks fast, which has helped turn millions of young eyes to it over the years. The Release Series 8.0's Five Axis body pieces accentuate this, and the Absolutely Red paint color is brilliant.
Notable Standard Equipment
The 2013 Scion tC carries great youth-appeal cred with standard equipment that includes 18-inch wheels and the impressive Pioneer sound system. That sound system is HD Radio capable and you can connect your phone to it, as long as you're running Bluetooth 2.0 or higher. There are two microphones in the ceiling-light array to help facilitate use of the hands-free phone option. Toyota's Star Safety System is also standard and features eight airbags and traction and stability control along with active front headrests.
Notable Optional Equipment
From the factory, 19-inch wheels are available for the 2013 Scion tC, as are a Bespoke audio upgrade, rear spoiler and sportier TRD springs and anti-roll bars. The Release Series 8.0 package includes a body kit from Five Axis, center exhaust with a TRD sport muffler, lower TRD springs and paddle shifters (with the automatic). Aftermarket options for the 2013 Scion tC are as extensive as they are for all other Scion models.
Under the Hood
All Scion tC trim levels carry a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, producing 180 horsepower and 173 lb-ft of torque. Both manual and automatic transmissions are 6-speed units. The automatic downshifts well enough, but upshifts can feel a little lazy. The manual transmission's clutch could be accused of being soft but the bolt-action precision of its shifter largely offsets that concern.
2.5-liter inline-4
180 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
173 lb-ft of torque @ 4,100 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 23/31 mpg
Pricing Notes
Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) on the 2013 Scion tC coupe is $19,480 with the 6-speed manual gearbox and another $1,000 with the automatic transmission. The Release Series 8.0 has MSRPs of $22,570 (manual) and $23,620 (automatic). Last year's Release Series 7.0, the hot yellow Lightning Bolt package with its TRD body kit, is still available, starting at $21,635. Competitors like the
Honda Civic and
Kia Forte start for less, but don't offer the impressive list of standard equipment that the 2013 tC does. Resale values on the Scion tC have held well for previous models and the 2013 should be no different, though the arrival of the excellent
Scion FR-S rear-drive coupe may have some impact by pulling away the more sport-minded drivers. For the best picture of what 2013 Scion tC models are selling for in your area, check out the Fair Purchase Price on KBB.com.
